Portable electric lantern



July 7, 1942. l c Qs. PACKER 2,239,275

PORTABLE ELECTRIC'LANTERN v Filed Jan. 22, 1940 :s sheets-sheet 1 BY i,2. /M Aromg y July 7, 1942. c. s.`PAcKER PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi1ed`-Jan.. 22. 1940 MMIIMW! INVENTOK C/Zzfifachef Y 2Wm v y ATTORNEY July`7, 1942. c. s. PACKER OR'IABLE ELECTRIC LANTERNFiled Jan. 22, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 QNN www www.

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Patented July 7, 1942 PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN Charles S. Packer,Chicago, Ill., assignor to Justrite Manufacturing Company, Chicago,Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 22, 1940, Serial N0.314,975

19 Claims.

The present invention relates to portable electric lanterns, and more in.particular to such lanterns particularly ladapted for railway signalingand the like.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a portableelectric lantern particularly adapted for railway signaling and thelike, having a plurality of lamps which may be selectively positionedfor operation substantially centrally with respect to the lantern.

' A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novelportable lantern including a novel arrangement of elements whereby anyone of a plurality of lamps may be readily and easily positionedsubstantially centrally with respect to a reector by the manualmanipulation of a switch adapted to selectively establish electricalcircuits including any one of said lamps.

More particularly, the present invention has an object the provision ofa novel switch disposed withn the said circuit which serves as amounting for one or more lamps associated with a reflector.

The present invention also comprehends a novel mounting for the saidswitch whereby operation- The present invention also includes as an ob-`ject the idea of providing means associated with the said switch elementwhereby the said switch element is selectively controlled.

As a further object of the present invention,

novel means is provided to completely insulate a battery set or the likefrom the housing to prevent the completion of an electrical circuittherewith irrespective of the position of the battery set within thehousing. Inas-much as the invention embraces means at the reflectorheadfor normally interrupting this circuit,the present improvementincludes novel means used in conjunction with such structure and inopposed relation thereto which will insulate the said battery should thesame be .placed within the housing in .a position reverse from itsnormal o-perative yposition with respect to the said reflector head. l

As a further object of the present invention,

novel means is incorporated in the portable lantern to provide a supporttherefor whereby the portable electric lantern is pivotally mountedthereon for varying the angularity of the projected beam of light asdesired. More particularly, this improved structure may be embodied inthe form of a support providing an additional lamp guard projectingoutwardly from the lamp housing land which is so yconstructed andarranged with respect to the lamp guard `as to normally provideclearance vwhereby said lamp guard has unobstructed movement at lalltimes during angular movement of the lantern with respect to saidsupport. In addition, such pivotal connection between the support andthe housing may also serve as a pivotal mounting for `a handle used forcarrying the lantern from place to place.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages arerconnarehendedby the invention, as will later appear and as areinherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of a portable lantern embodying amodied construction within the scope of the present invention; y

Figure 2 is a View in cross section of the lamp shown in Figure 1 of thedrawings and taken in a plane represented by line 2 2 of Figure 4 of thedrawings;

Figure 3 is a view in cross section through the device as shown inFigure 1V and taken in the plane represented by line 3-3 of Figure 4 ofthe drawings;

Figure 4 is a view in cross section taken in the plane represented byline fl-/i of Figure 3 of the drawings; v

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View in cross section taken in the planerepresented by line 5 5 of Figure 3 of the drawings;

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of a switch member used in this modiedlamp assembly;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the lamp housingdisclosing control means for the switch element;

Figure 8 is a View in side elevation of a portable lantern disclosingadditional features of construction comprehended by the presentinvention;

Figure 9 is `a view in end elevation of the portable lantern disclosedin Figure 8 of the drawings;

Figure 10 is a View in side elevation at substantially 90 degrees tothat of Figure 8, disclosing in dotted lines an adjusted position `forthe said lantern with respect to the support therefor; and

connected together in overlapping relation as by means of rivets 60which likewise secure a nnishing channel strip 62 to the housing at theoverlapped edges of parts 56 and 58. The housing 56 is closed at oneend-by the reflector head 54 which comprises a substantiallycircularshaped `plate 64 having an annular flange 66 whichtelescopically receives reflector 68 and secures the same in suchposition as by means of a plurality of bolts or screws 1Q. Thisreflector head 54 is secured in operative position at the said end ofthe housing 58 by means ofthe opposed brackets 12 and 14. Each of saidbrackets has one leg thereof secured to the plate member 64 by spotwelding'or the like, and the other leg thereof is received in one of theopposed recesses 16 of housing 58. The said brackets are secured to thehousing by means of a plurality of rivets 18 which also extend throughplates 82 disposed exteriorly of the housing 56 and have tubular upperend portions 84 through which the -middle portions of the invertedresilient U-shaped wire elements 86 pass, the said wire elements beingrigidly secured to the casing 50 through the said plates 82.

As already described, the other end of the housing 50 is normally closedby a detachable cover or cap 52 which is provided with a leaf spring 9!!secured thereto by means of one or more rivets 92 and which spring isadapted to engage one end of a battery set 88 for resiliently holdingthe battery set within the housing and to prevent displacement thereof.This cover 52 is detachably connected to the housing by means ofoppositely disposed buttons |88 projecting through aligned openings inthe housing and the marginal flange of the cover. These buttons |80 aresecured adjacent one end of leaf springs 94 and 96 disposed adjacent theinner face of the housing and which springs, adjacent their other end,are connected to the said housing by means of rivets 98 or the like.Inasmuch as these buttons are resiliently mounted and project throughthe flange of the cover, the said cover may be easily and readilydetached from the housing by pressing one or more of the said buttons torelease their engagement with the cover and permitting removal thereoffrom the housing.

The plate member 64 of the reflector head is formed with an elongatedslot |64 through which projects a spring contact element |86 secured bymeans of a rivet ||0 to an insulating plate |68. Rivet ||8 likewisesecures a contact plate I I2 to the said insulation plate |88, whichcontact plate is adapted to be engaged by a spring terminal ||4 of thesaid battery set 88. This plate 2 is disposed in concentric relationwith respect to the marginal edge of an opening formed in a plate ||6which is offset to receive the insulating plate |68 and is provided withflanges ||8 and |20 which may be secured to the plate 64' by spotwelding or the like, whereby the insulating plate and contact plate I2,as well as the spring contact |06, are held in operative position, suchposition being further maintained by way of a plurality of rivets suchas |22 which extend through plates H6, |88 and 64. These rivets alsoestablish an electrical circuit to the reector head through plate 64 andplate ||G which is engaged by a leaf spring terminal |24 of the batteryset.

The reflector 68 is formed with a concave or dished surface |26 adjacentthe bottom of which is provided a channel |28 having an elongated slot|30 provided therein, this channel |23 being adapted to seat a movableswitch |32 which is formed with side walls |34 and |36 connectedtogether by a connecting wall or web |36. This switch. is slidablymounted within the channel |28 and is maintained in position by means ofleaf springs |48 and |42 secured in offset relation to plate 64 by meansof rivets |44 and serving as guide rails adapted to engage the sidewalls |34 and |36 of the said switch.

This switch further provides a mounting for a plurality of lamps such as|46 and |48, each of which is mounted within a socket, such as |53,which extends through a suitable aperture in the connecting web |36 ofthe switch and is held in position by a nut |52 threadedly engaging thesame, the said nut |52 having an insulating sleeve |54 mounted within acentral opening formed therein and which is secured thereto by way of arivet |55, one end of which within the socket |56 is adapted to engagethe end of a lamp, and the other end of which provides a contactengageable with the spring contact |66. Rivet |56 at its inner end isinsulated from nut |52 by way of the insulating plate |53 which bridgesthe two nuts |52, the said rivet having a washer |68 interposed betweenits inner head and the said insulating plate |58.

It will therefore be clearly apparent that the switch |32 is adapted tocomplete a circuit from the battery set through either one of the lamps|46 or |48 and also provides a mounting for said lamps to dispose thesame exteriorly of the reflector head at all times whereby either one ofsaid lamps may be moved to establish an electric2121 circuit thereto forsignaling purpcsas or the li e.

The movement of switch |32 is eifected by way of a switch member |62disposed on one side of plate 64 and ilxed to a pin |64 pivoted in plate64 and to which is fixed an operating member |66 in the form of a platedisposed within recess or depression |68 on the other side of plate 64,the said operating member |66 having a knob, such as |18, for operationof the said switch |62 through plate |66 and pivot pin |64.

The switch element is made of phosphor-bronze or other suitable materialof the shape disclosed in Figure 4 of the drawings, to include thespaced arms |12 and |14 bridged adjacent the ends thereof by a head |16formed with an aperture |18 and a projecting operating finger |85adapted to be received between and in engaging relation to spacedabutments |82 and |84 formed as struck-out portions of wall |36 ofswitch |32. It will therefore be clearly apparent that movement of theknob |16 moves switch |32 through the interconnection of switch element|62 and abutments |82 and |84.

In order to position the switch member |62, a protuberance or button |86may be provided in opposed relation to aperture 18 when switch member|62 is in its central position and which protuberance is likewiseadapted to engage the said switch member at the junction of the arms |12and |14 with head |16 when the switch has been moved to complete acircuit through either of the lamps |46 or |48. In this connection itshould be noted that the button |86 projects a sufcient distance fromthe face of plate 64 to flex member |62 upon operation so that thespring tension of member |62 will hold the same in association withbutton |86 in any of its operative positions. If desired, button |66 mayconstitute a part of securing means for securing spring rail |42 toplate 64, as shown in the drawings.

As an additional feature of construction incorporated to facilitateproper operation of the switch and to control the movement thereof,novel means is provided adapted to cooperate with the switch operatingmember |66 and knob |16 to control the operation thereof. Such means isconstituted by a spring plate |88 formed with a central part I1| andangularly disposed end parts |13 and |15 having ears |66 and |92,respectively, adapted to embrace the underside of plate 64 and toprovide stops for the said switch operating element |66. This springplate is formed with a slot in the central part |1| having enlarged endparts |94 and |96 interconnected by Way of the restricted part |68, thesaid slot embracing a stud pin 266 secured to and projecting from thereflector head at the annular ange 66 adjacent the knob |16 of switchoperating element |66. This pin is headed as at 262 adapted to overlapthe marginal edges of the slot of spring element |88 for maintaining thesame in position and restricting the same to movement in the directionof the said slot thereof. The said pin 266 adjacent the head 262 isformed with an enlarged cylindrical part 266 of slightly less diameterthan the width of slot openings |94 and thereof of slightly lessdiameter than the cylindrical part 266 and of slightly less width thanthe restricted slot portion |98.

Because of the angular relation of the parts 13 and |15 with respect tothe central part |1|, the said member |88 is normally disposed, becauseof its resiliency, in abutting engagement with the head 262, the saidplate |88 being restricted in its movement because of the enlargedcylindrical part 266 which is adapted to be received in either of theenlarged slots |94 or |96 but which is prevented from movement by way ofthe restricted slot |68. However, when it is desired to move the member|66, the same may be pressed slightly toward the flange 66 to disengagethe cylindrical part 266 from either of the two slot parts |94 or |96whereby `the restricted slot |96 is in opposed relation to thecylindrical part 268. Movement of the member |86 with respect to annularange 66 may take place at this time, so as to change the relativepositions of the ears |68 and |66 with respect to the switch operatingelement |66. The particular formation of the spring plate including theangular disposition of parts |13 and |15 with respect to the centralpart |1| facilitates release of said Y member |86 from engaging relationwith theY pin and its movement with respect thereto.

The ears |96 and |92 serve as abutments to control movement of switchelement |66 and knob |16, it being noted that when the said member |86is in one of itspositions switch element |66 can be operated to movebetween its central position and one of its extreme angular positionsfor moving one of the lamps into and out of the electrical circuitdescribed hereinabove. On the other hand, if member |88 is moved intoits other position, movement of switch element |66 is limited betweenits normal central position and its other eXtreme angular posi- |96, anda cylindrical part 268 inwardly Y tion` whereby only the other lamp canbe moved into and out of the circuit as hereinbefore described. Thisnovel control means therefore facilitates proper operation of thelantern under all normal conditions, and should one of the lamps becomebroken or burned out, it is only necessary to move the member |88 intothe other of its positions whereby the other of the lamps may be movedinto and out of its electrical circuit.

The U-shaped wire elements 36 extending beyond the lamp housing areconnected to a ring 2|6 which serves as a means for supporting the lampwhen not in use and as a guard to prevent injury or breakage to thelamps |46 or |66 or other associated elements of the device.

The present invention also embraces within its scope novel meansproviding a support for the portable lantern, one embodiment selected todisclose this feature of the construction being shown in Figures 9 to 11inclusive wherein the portable lantern is provided with a housing 2|6including a reflector head 2| 2 and a removable end cap 2|4 adapted toenclose a battery 2|6, `all as hereinbefore described in connection withFigures 1 to 7 inclusive. The said lantern may embrace the structureshown in the said ligures, providing means for completing a circuit fromthe battery to one of a plurality of lamps by way of the switchoperating member 2|8 and associated elements controlled as by means ofthe mechanism 226, all in accordance with the previously described lampstructure. In the present embodiment the lamps are protected by a globe222 secured to the reflector head by way of a plurality of clips 224embracing the annular flange of the globe 222 and being secured by meansof bolts or screws 226 which may be apertured as at 228 to receive asealing device which may be used under certain conditions to preventremoval of the said globe and the lamps enclosed thereby and mountedwithin the reector head. In order to facilitate drawing of the clamps224 into position without breaking the said globe 222 and to provide atight joint between the globe 222 and the reflector head 2|2, a gasket2|3 may be interposed between the globe and reflector head.

As in the previously described embodiment, the lamp guard comprisesopposed U-shaped wire elements 236 secured within the tubular rollededges 232 of bracket elements 236 attached to the housing 216 andfixedly securing the said elements in projected relation to thereflector head. The lamp guard is completed by means of a wire ring 236connected adjacent the ends of wire elements 236, all as disclosed inFigures l to '1 inclusive. The portable lantern of the embodiment nowbeing discussed is provided with laterally projecting pins such as 238providing pivots for a handle 246 which is held in place by nuts 242secured to the said pins. These pins may likewise provide pivot pointsfor a support 266 which is formed in part by the side plate members 246and 266 pivoted to the pins 236, a plurality of washers 256 of anysuitable material being interposed betvveen the elements at the pivot toprovide frictional resistance for holding the housing 2 I6 in any of itsangularly adjusted positions with respect to the support 244. These sideplates 246 and 248, are formed with marginal rolled edges 252-adapted toembrace U-shaped wire elements 254 laterally disposed in respect to thelamp guard previously described and having attached at their ends a wirering 256, which wire ring, in conjunction with the elements previouslydescribed, provides a support whereby the lamp housing may be pivotedinto a plurality of angular positions with respect to the base about thepivot points 238 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 10 of the drawings.The said support 244 is constructed and arranged with respect to thepreviously described lamp guard so as to provide clearance therewithwhereby the lantern can be moved into angular relation with the support,the said support also being disposed in such a position as to have theadditional function of protecting the reector head and associatedmechanism, as well as the lamp guard, from injury.

As an additional feature of construction, provision has been made toguard against possible short-circuiting of the battery set which mightotherwise occur under certain conditions where the battery set isinserted into the lantern housing 2l!) in a position reversed from thatwhich it normally assumes for cooperative relation with the variouselements of the reector head. In order to prevent such short-circuitingwith resultant dissipation of electrical energy, the removable closuremember 2|4 is provided with an insulating plate 258 secured thereto inassociation with the leaf spring 264 and by the rivets 262 by which theleaf spring 264 is attached to the closure member. This insulating plate25B is disposed to be engaged by the spring terminal 26S of the battery2I6 should the same be placed within the housing 2!!! in the reverseposition as shown in Figure ll. This plate 258 of insulating materialprevents the completion of a circuit from the spring terminal 260through the housing to the other terminal for the battery set, therebypreventing short-circuiting of the said battery set when the battery setis placed within the housing in a reverse position from that which itnormally asumes to cooperate with the various elements of the reflectorhead. Accordingly, it may be stated that the providing of insulatingmaterial 258 as disclosed results in a lamp structure wherein thebattery is completely insulated at all times to prevent short-circuitingirrespective of its position within the housing, a circuit beingcompleted therethrough only as desired by proper manipulation of theswitch at the reflector head controlling the circuit to one or more ofthe lamps which may be provided in said head. The

structure is therefore fool-proof and guards against the dissipation ofelectrical energy from the battery even though the said battery isinadvertently placed within the housing in a reverse position from thatwhich it normally assumes.

In order to completely seal the lantern and to prevent removal of any ofthe elements thereof, apertured pins, such as 266, may be provided onopposite sides of the housing 210 and adjacent the removable closureelement 2 I4 to receive the wire element of sealing mechanism which isadapted to extend over the closure element 2 I4 to prevent removalthereof from the housing 2H), thus providing a structure which cannot bereadily tampered with, a particularly desirable characteristic wherelanterns of the type herein described are used in the vicinity of gaswells, gasoline and the like.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown illustrativeembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions,arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from thespirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an electrical lantern, the combination of a housing, a source ofelectrical energy, a lamp, means associated with said housing forestablishing an electrical circuit from said source of electrical energythrough said lamp, said means including a switch mounted adjacent oneend of said housing for linear movement transversely with respect tosaid housing, means for mounting said lamp for movement in accordancewith the movement of said switch, and means pivotally mounted in saidhousing and operable exteriorly thereof and articulately connected withsaid switch for operation of the same and for moving said lamp into andout of said circuit.

2. In an electrical lantern, the combination of a housing, a source ofelectrical energy, a lamp, means for movably mounting said lamp withrespect to said housing, means associated with said housing forestablishing an electrical circuit from said source of electrical energythrough said lamp, said means including a switch mounted adjacent oneend of said housing for linear' movement transversely with respect tosaid housing and for moving said lamp with respect to said housing intoand out of said circuit, and means pivotally mounted in said housing andoperable eX- teriorly thereof and articulatedly connected with saidswitch for simultaneously operating said switch and moving said lamp.

3. In an electrical lantern, the combination of a housing having areflector head, a source of electrical energy, a plurality of lamps,means associated with said housing for establishing an electricalcircuit from said source of electrical energy through any one of saidlamps, said means including a switch mounted in said reflector head fortransverse linear movement with respect thereto and having means formounting said lamps for positioning the same exteriorly of saidreflector head, and pivotally mounted means operable exteriorly of saidhousing for operating said switch to position any one of said lampssubstantially centrally with respect to said reflector head and tocomplete a circuit from said source of electrical energy therethrough.

4. In an electrical lantern, the combination of a housing including anouter wall, an opposed inner wall, a source of electrical energy,contact means in electrical association with said electrical energy, aswitch member mounted for sliding movement in cooperative relation withand disposed between said walls, said switch member having contact meansengageable with said firstnamed contact means to complete and interruptan electrical circuit established through said switch from said sourceof energy, said switch member comprising a substantially U-shaped memberhaving side walls and a connecting web, spaced abutments provided on oneof said side walls, and a pivoted switch member having a part normallydisposed between said abutments for operation of said first-named switchmember.

5. In an electrical lantern, the combination of a housing including anouter wall, an opposed inner wall, a source of electrical energy,contact means in electrical association with said electrical energy, aswitch member mounted for sliding movement in cooperative relation withand disposed between said walls, said switch member having contact meansengageable with said firstnamed contact means to complete and interruptan electrical circuit established through said switch from said sourceof energy, said switch member comprising a substantially U-shaped memberhaving side walls and a connecting web, means connected to saidconnecting web providing a lamp mounting, spaced abutments provided onone of said side walls, and a pivoted switch member having a partnormally disposed between said abutments for operation of said rst-namedswitch member.

6. In an electrical lantern, the combination of a housing including areflector provided with a channel, an opposed wall, a source ofelectrical energy, contact means in electrical association with saidelectrical energy, a switch member mounted for sliding movement in saidchannel, said switch member having contact means engageable with saidrst-named contact means to complete and interrupt an electrical circuitestablished through said switch from said source of energy, resilientmeans on said wall cooperating with said switch member for positioningthe same within said channel, said switch member comprising asubstantially U-shaped member having side walls and a connecting web,means connected to said connecting web providing a lamp mounting, one ofsaid walls having parts struck out therefrom to provide spacedabutments, and a pivoted switch member having a part normally disposedbetween said abutments for operation of said rst-named switch member.

7. An electrical lantern, comprising a housing having a slot adjacentone end thereof, a source of electrical energy, means associated withsaid housing for establishing an electrical circuit with said source ofelectrical energy including electrical contact means, a linearly movableswitch member having electrical contact means adapted to engage saidrst-named electrical contact means, a plurality of lamps mounted in saidswitch member and extending through said slot and being disposedexteriorly of said housing, said switch member having means forselectively introducing said lamps into said circuit, and an actuatingdevice pivotally mounted upon and operable exteriorly of said housingand separably and articulatedly associated with said switch member forselectively moving the same.

8. An electrical lantern, comprising a housing having a slot adjacentone end thereof, a source of electrical energy, means associated withsaid housing for establishing an electrical circuit with said source ofelectrical energy including electrical contact means, said housinghaving opposed walls adjacent one end thereof, a linearly movable switchmember having electrical contact means adapted to engage saidfirst-named electrical contact means slidably mounted between saidopposed walls, a plurality of lamps mounted in said switch member andextending through said slot and being disposed exteriorly of saidhousing, said switch member having means for selectively introducingsaid lamps into said circuit, and an actuating device pivotally mountedupon and operable exteriorly of said housing and separably andarticulatedly associated with said switch member for selectively movingthe same.

9. An electrical lantern, comprising a housing having a slot adjacentone end thereof, a source of electrical energy, means associated withsaid housing for establishing an electrical circuit with said source ofelectrical energy including electrical contact means, a linearly movableswitch member having electrical contact means adapted to engage saidfirst-named electrical contact means, a plurality of lamps mounted insaid switch member and extending through said slot and being disposedexteriorly of said housing, said switch member having means forselectively introducing said lamps into said circuit, an actuatingdevice pivotally mounted upon and operable exteriorly of said housingand separably and articulatedly associated with said switch member forselectively moving the same, and means for selectively controlling theoperation of said last named device.

10. In an electrical lantern, the combination of a housing having atransversely disposed wall of concave formation adjacent one end thereofprovided with a channel-shaped recess projecting into the concavetransversely disposed wall and having a slot through the bottom wallthereof, a source of electrical energy, means for establishing anelectrical circuit with said source of electrical energy including amovable switch member mounted in and having sliding association with thewalls of said recess, and a lamp mounted in said switch member movablydisposed in said slot.

11. In an electrical lantern, the combination of a housing having atransversely disposed wall of concave formation adjacent one end thereofprovided with a channel-shaped recess projecting into the concavetransversely disposed wall and having a slot through the bottom wallthereof, a source of electrical energy, means for establishing anelectrical circuit with said source of electrical energy including amovable switch member mounted in and having sliding association with thewalls of said recess, resilient means for positioning said switch withinsaid channel, and a lamp mounted in said switch member movably disposedin said slot.

12. In an electrical lantern, the combination of a housing having atransversely disposed wall of concave formation adjacent one end thereofprovided with a channel-shaped recess projecting into the concavetransversely disposedwall and having a slot through the bottom wallthereof, a source of electrical energy, means for establishing anelectrical circuit with said source of electrical energy including amovable switch member mounted in and having sliding association with thewalls of said recess, a lamp mounted in said switch member movablydisposed in said slot, and a second Switch member manually operableexteriorly of said housing and operatively connected to said rst switchmember. f

13. An electrical lantern, comprising a housing, a source of electricalenergy, means associated with said housing for establishing anelectrical circuit with said source of electrical energy, a plurality oflamps adapted to be introduced into said circuit and mounted formovement exteriorly of said housing, a switch mounted adjacent one endof said housing for linear movement transversely with respect to saidhousing and being movable into a plurality of positions to complete andinterrupt the said circuit for any selected lamp, a pivoted exibleSwitch member pivotally mounted in said housing and operable exteriorlythereof and operatively connected to said switch, and means positionedto ex said flexible member and cooperating therewith when exed formaintaining said switch member in certain of its selected positions.

14. An electrical lanternl comprising a housing,

a source of electrical energy, means associated with said housing forestablishing an electrical circuit with said source of electricalenergy, a plurality of lamps adapted to be introduced into said circuitand mounted for movement exteriorly of said housing, a switch mountedadjacent one end ci said housing for linear movement transversely withrespect to said housing and being movable into a plurality of positionsto complete and interrupt the said circuit for any selected lamp, apivoted switch member pivotally mounted in said housing and operableexteriorly of said housing and operatively connected to said switch, andmeans cooperating with said switch member for selectively controllingthe operation thereof.

15. In an electrical lantern, the combination of a housing including areflector provided with a channel, an opposed wall, a source ofelectrical energy, contact means in electrical association with saidelectrical energy, a movable switch member mounted in said channel, saidswitch member having contact means engageable with said first-namedcontact means to complete and interrupt an electrical circuitestablished through said switch from said source of energy, spring meansattached to said opposed wall and providing resilient rails for saidswitch member, said switch member having spaced abutments, a pivotedswitch member extending exteriorly of said housing for manual operation,said pivoted switch member having a projection disposed between saidabutments for operating said first-named switch member, and meanscooperating with said pivoted switch member for selectively controllingoperation thereof.

16. In an electrical lantern, the combination of a housing, a source ofelectrical energy, contact means in electrical association with saidelectrical energy, a switch member, means for mounting said switchmember for movement within said housing, said switch member havingcontact means engageable with said rst-named contact means to completeand interrupt an electrical circuit established through said switch fromsaid source of energy, said switch member having spaced abutments, apivoted switch member operable from exteriorly of said housing andincluding a iiexible part having a projection disposed between saidabutments for operation of said first-named switch member, aprotuberance projecting slightly above the normal plane of operation ofsaid flexible part, said part having means cooperating with saidprotuberance whereby said rst-named switch member is held in any of itsvarious positions, and a readily adjustable control member exteriorly ofsaid housing cooperating with said pivoted switch member for selectivelylimiting the movement of said firstnamed switch member between certainof its said various positions.

17. An electrical lantern, comprising a housing, a source of electricalenergy, means associated with said housing for establishing anelectrical circuit with said source of electrical energy, a plurality oflamps adapted to be introduced into said circuit and mounted formovement exteriorly of said housing, a switch movable into a pluralityof positions to complete and interrupt the said circuit for any selectedlamp, a pivoted exible switch member operable exteriorly of said housingand operatively connected to said switch, and means interlocking withsaid exible switch member for positioning the same in its selectedpositions, said means being positioned to cause flexing of said flexiblemember in moving into and out of its said positions to assure properinterlocking relation of said means and member.

18. In an electrical lantern, the combination of a housing, a source ofelectrical energy, means for establishing an electrical circuit withsaid source of electrical energy including a switch mounted within saidhousing for movement into a plurality of operating positions, a switchoperating member having a part exteriorly of said housing and movablewith respect thereto, and a control member selectively adjustable withrespect to said part to provide for movement oi said switch into saidplurality of operating positions but selectively restricting themovement of said switch in any of its adjusted positions between certainonly of said plurality of operating positions.

19. In an electrical lantern, the combination of a housing, a source ofelectrical energy, means for establishing an electrical circuit withsaid source of electrical energy including a switch movably mountedwithin said housing for movement into a plurality of operatingpositions, a switch operating member having a part exteriorly of saidhousing and movable with respect thereto, and a control memberselectively and interlockingly adjustable with respect to said housingand having abutting means selectively movable into a plurality ofpositions to provide for movement of said switch into said plurality ofoperating positions but selectively restricting the movement of saidswitch in any of its adjusted positions between certain only of saidplurality of operating positions.

CHARLES S. PACKER.

